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Path: utzoo!utcsri!clarke
From: clarke@utcsri.UUCP (Jim Clarke)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: red flag projecting into traffic
Message-ID: <1445@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Sep-85 13:55:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1445
Posted: Mon Sep 30 13:55:16 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 30-Sep-85 14:23:02 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 32

I'm new to this newsgroup, so the question I raise may either have been brought
up twice a year for the last five years or be considered beneath contempt by
most readers.  However, here goes:

I use my bicycle mostly for short (1-3 km) commutes along pretty busy
streets.  Here in Toronto most motorists are fairly considerate, in my
opinion, but once or twice in every ride someone will try to readjust my
left ankle.  Under a certain amount of pressure at home, partly because
I used to ride daily with my 3-year-old on the back, I eventually bought
one of those plastic waggly things with a red flag on the end that sticks
out into the traffic.  I didn't like to do it, because as a motorist I
find them a little annoying ("I don't need that thing to tell me how much
space to leave."), but to save my neck from the inconsiderate drivers I
decided to risk annoying others.

Problem:  My impression, based on rather poor statistics so far, is that
*more* drivers come too close with this flag than without.  Sample event:
I protest in my usual mild way, and get the answer (extensively edited)
"I didn't hit you.  I didn't even hit that thing [indicating the flag].
So what are you worried about?"

The numbers are small, as I said, so I can't be sure.  But the villain's
reaction suggests a theory, namely that drivers are trying to just miss my
flag, instead of leaving a sensible margin around my corporeal self.  Weak
theory plus weak numbers suggest the flag may be increasing the danger.

Do others agree?  Is there a standard net.bicycle opinion on this?  (Please,
if there is, mail it to me instead of posting it.)
-- 
Jim Clarke -- Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4
              (416) 978-4058
{allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsri!clarke


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